Twitch introduces parental controls to block teen livestreams

Twitch has rolled out new parental‑control features that let guardians link their children’s accounts and manage how teens use the platform. The update, aimed at users aged 13 to 17, allows parents to block their children from broadcasting, disable private messaging (Whispers) and prevent them from sending or receiving direct messages. In addition, parents can set flexible daily limits on screen time and receive a weekly email that summarizes their teen’s activity, including the channels watched and hours spent.

The controls are designed to give parents a clearer view of their child’s streaming habits while giving them the tools to set boundaries. By linking a parent’s account to a teen’s, the platform provides a dashboard for monitoring and adjusting permissions, and the weekly email offers a concise report of viewing patterns. These measures are part of Twitch’s broader effort to improve safety and transparency for younger users.

With the new features in place, parents can now more effectively supervise their children’s use of Twitch, ensuring that minors are not broadcasting or engaging in private chats without oversight. The platform’s updated policy reflects a growing emphasis on responsible content creation and user protection in the streaming community.